*14 October 1751 from [[Fairfield County, Connecticut|Fairfield]] and [[Hartford County, Connecticut|Hartford]] counties.<ref name="HBG">''Handybook for Genealogists: United States of America'', 10th ed. (Draper, Utah: Everton Pub., 2002), ppp. {{WorldCat|50140092|disp=At various libraries (WorldCat)}}; {{FHL|1049485|item|disp=FHL Book 973 D27e 2002}}.</ref>

+

*14 October 1751 from [[Fairfield County, Connecticut|Fairfield]] and [[Hartford County, Connecticut|Hartford]] counties.<ref>''Handybook'', 181.</ref>

==== Boundary Changes ====

==== Boundary Changes ====

Line 47:

Line 45:

... Besides its national reputation as a resort, Litchfield has a local fame as the county seat ... Next to the block stood the Court House, a big building also of wood, and its turn came next. The townsmen could do nothing to save it, and it burned down before their eyes, but the county records were saved. Close to the Court House there was the only brick building in that part of the town and it proved an effective barrier, the Court House being the last building on West-street to be destroyed. <br>... Among the property destroyed was Lawyer H. B. Graves's library, which contained many rare and valuable works, and D. C. Kilbourn's historical library.<br>The New York Times, New York, NY 12 Jun 1886<br>(source:[http://www3.gendisasters.com/connecticut/6492/litchfield-ct-court-house-other-buildings-fire-jun-1886 ''GenDisasters''])

... Besides its national reputation as a resort, Litchfield has a local fame as the county seat ... Next to the block stood the Court House, a big building also of wood, and its turn came next. The townsmen could do nothing to save it, and it burned down before their eyes, but the county records were saved. Close to the Court House there was the only brick building in that part of the town and it proved an effective barrier, the Court House being the last building on West-street to be destroyed. <br>... Among the property destroyed was Lawyer H. B. Graves's library, which contained many rare and valuable works, and D. C. Kilbourn's historical library.<br>The New York Times, New York, NY 12 Jun 1886<br>(source:[http://www3.gendisasters.com/connecticut/6492/litchfield-ct-court-house-other-buildings-fire-jun-1886 ''GenDisasters''])

Civil War service men from Litchfield County served in various regiments. Men often joined a company (within a regiment) that originated in their county. Most of the men in the following companies were from Litchfield County.

Civil War service men from Litchfield County served in various regiments. Men often joined a company (within a regiment) that originated in their county. Most of the men in the following companies were from Litchfield County.

Parent County

Boundary Changes

Record Loss

Lost census: 1890

A LARGE PORTION OF THE TOWN ENTIRELY DESTROYED.

... Besides its national reputation as a resort, Litchfield has a local fame as the county seat ... Next to the block stood the Court House, a big building also of wood, and its turn came next. The townsmen could do nothing to save it, and it burned down before their eyes, but the county records were saved. Close to the Court House there was the only brick building in that part of the town and it proved an effective barrier, the Court House being the last building on West-street to be destroyed. ... Among the property destroyed was Lawyer H. B. Graves's library, which contained many rare and valuable works, and D. C. Kilbourn's historical library.The New York Times, New York, NY 12 Jun 1886(source:GenDisasters)

Places / Localities

Modern towns and cities in Litchfield County, Connecticut. Click map to go to each respective town page.

Bible Records

Biographies

Arthur Goodenough, The clergy of Litchfield County, (Winchester, Connecticut : Litchfield County University Club, 1909). Available online at Google Books, (accessed 7 Mar 2011). Also available at the Family History Library, FHL US/CAN Book 974.61 K2g.

Dwight C. Kilbourn, The bench and bar of Litchfield County, Connecticut, 1709-1909 biographical sketches of members, history and catalogue of the Litchfield Law School, historical notes, (Litchfield, Connecticut : D. C. Kilbourn, c1909). Includes index. Available online at Internet Archives. Also available at the Family History Library, FHL US/CAN Book 974.61 U24k, or on the desktop at the Family History Library, Computer US/CAN Desktop CD-ROM no. 2630 v. 2.

David S. Boardman, Sketches of the early lights of the Litchfield bar, (Ann Arbor, Michigan : University Microfilms, 1987). Includes index. Available online at Internet Archives. Also available in the Family History Library, FHL US/CAN Fiche 6062276.

Charles F. Sedgwick, Fifty years at the Litchfield County bar, (Ann Arbor, Michigan : University Microfilms, 1987). A database for this book is available at ancestry.com$, (accessed 7 Mar 2011). Also available at the Family History Library, FHL US/CAN Fiche 6062277.

Payne Kenyon Kilbourn, A biographical history of the county of Litchfield, Connecticut comprising biographical sketches of distinguished natives and residents of the county; together with complete lists of the judges of the county court, justices of the quorum, county commissioners, judges of probate, sheriffs, senators, &c., (New York, New York : Clark, Austin, 1851). Available online at Internet Archives, (accessed 7 Mar 2011). Also available at the Family History Library, FHL US/CAN Book 974.61 D3k.

Biographical review, this volume contains biographical sketches of the leading citizens of Litchfield County, Connecticut, (Salt Lake City, Utah : Filmed by the Genealogical Society of Utah, 1974). Includes index. Available at the Family History Library, FHL US/CAN Film 924619 Item 2.

Joyce Mackenzie Cropsey, Register of revolutionary soldiers and patriots buried in Litchfield County, (Canaan, New Hampshire :Phoenix Publishing, c1976). Published for the Mary Floyd Tallmadge Chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution. Bibliography: p. 153-154. Includes index. Available at the Family History Library, FHL US/CAN Book 974.61 V22c.

Lowell M. Volkel, An index to the 1800 federal census of Litchfield, New Haven, Tolland and Windham counties, state of Connecticut, ([S.l.] : L.M. Volkel, c1969). Available at the Family History Center, FHL US/CAN Book 974.6 X22vLm 1800.

Church

Arthur Goodenough, The clergy of Litchfield County, (Winchester, Connecticut : Litchfield County University Club, 1909). Available online at Google Books, (accessed 1 Mar 2011), or Internet Archives, (accessed 1 Mar 2011). A database for this book can be found at ancestry.com$, (accessed 1 Mar 2011). Also available at the Family History Library, FHL US/CAN Book 974.61 K2g, or FHL US/CAN Fiche 6100461.

Litchfield County Foreign Mission Society (Litchfield County, Connecticut), Semi-centennial of the Litchfield Co. Foreign Mission Society celebrated at Litchfield, October 16, 1861, (Salt Lake City, Utah : Filmed by the Genealogical Society of Utah, 1995). Available at the Family History Library, FHL US/CAN Film 1598359 Item 14.

Dwellings

Old Woodbury Historical Society (Woodbury, Connecticut), Homes of Old Woodbury, ([Woodbury, Connecticut] : Old Woodbury Historical Society (Connecticut), c1959). Old Woodbury included the present towns of Woodbury, Washington, Bethlehem, Roxbury, and Southbury. Available at the Family History Library, FHL US/CAN Book 974.61 H2ho.

Gazetteers

Genealogy

R. Manning Chipman, The history of Harwinton, Connecticut, (Hartford [Connecticut] : Williams, Wiley & Turner, 1860). Includes bibliographical references and index. Available online at Internet Archives, (accessed 8 Mar 2011). Also available at the Family History Library, FHL US/CAN Book 974.61/H1 H2c, or FHL US/CAN Film 1698076 Item 4.

Elmer I. Shepard, Elmer I. Shepard Collection Connecticut and Vermont family group records, ca. 1550-1900, (Salt Lake City, Utah : Filmed by the Genealogical Society of Utah, 1990). The Shepard Collection represents the working files of Elmer I. Shepard. He gathered his material from a number of sources, both primary and secondary, and then combined it on 3 x 5 index cards, arranged by geographic location (county and town) and then by surname, listed under the heads of families. Available at the Family History Library, 4 films starting with, FHL US/CAN Film 1684312 Items 12-19.

Periodicals

Mid-Hudson Genealogical journal, (Salt Lake City, Utah : Filmed by the Genealogical Society of Utah, 1988). Available at the Family History Library, FHL US/CAN Film 1320724 Item 10.

History

History of Litchfield County, Connecticut with illustrations and biographical sketches of its prominent men and pioneers, (Salt Lake City, Utah : Filmed by the Genealogical Society of Utah, 1971). Microfilm of original published: Philadelphia, Pa. : J.W. Lewis, 1881. 1 v. in 2 (730 p.), [278] leaves of plates : ill., maps, ports. Available online at Internet Archives, (accessed 1 Mar 2011). Also available at the Family History Library, FHL US/CAN Film 496898 Items 1-2.

Berkshire Genealogist Indexing Committee, Index to History of Litchfield County, Connecticut published by J. W. Lewis & Co. 1881, (Pittsfield, Massachusetts : Berkshire Family History Association, c1999). Available at the Family History Library, FHL US/CAN Book 974.61 H2h index.

Litchfield County (Conn.), Samuel Church, Horace Bushnell, Litchfield County centennial celebration held at Litchfield, Conn., 13th and 14th of August, 1851, (Ann Arbor, Michigan : University Microfilms, 1987). Includes "Address ... on the occasion of the centennial celebration, 1851 / by Judge Church": p. [21]-69 ; "The age of homespun. A discourse ... 1851 ' by Horace Bushnell": p. [105]-130. Available online at Google Books, (accessed 1 Mar 2011), or Internet Archives, (accessed 1 Mar 2011). Also available at the Family History Library, FHL US/CAN Fiche 6062275.

Dorothy Deming, Settlement of Litchfield County, (New Haven, Connecticut : Yale University Press, 1933). Available at the Family History Library, FHL US/CAN Book 974.6 H2c no. 7,or FHL US/CAN Film 1697313 Item 7.

R. Manning Chipman, The history of Harwinton, Connecticut, (Hartford [Connecticut] :Williams, Wiley & Turner, 1860). Includes bibliographical references and index. Available online at Internet Libraries, (accessed 1 Mar 2011). Also available at the Family History Library, FHL US/CAN Book 974.61/H1 H2c, or FHL US/CAN Film 1698076 Item 4.

Old Woodbury Historical Society, Homes of Old Woodbury, ([Woodbury, Connecticut] : Old Woodbury Historical Society (Connecticut), c1959). Old Woodbury included the present towns of Woodbury, Washington, Bethlehem, Roxbury, and Southbury. Available at the Family History Library, FHL US/CAN Book 974.61 H2ho.

Bibliography

Jean S. Morris, The Pennsylvania-Connecticut controversy bibliography, (Pittsburgh [Pennsylvania] : J.S. Morris, [c1984]). "In 1774, the territory now comprising the Pennsylvania counties of Bradford, Luzerne, Lackawanna, Susquehanna and Wyoming was organized into the Township of Westmoreland, Litchfield County, Connecticut. In 1776 it became a separate county in CT. In 1782 this area was officially awarded to the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. At this time the area was mostly within the bounds of Northumberland County, Pa."--Introd. Available at the Family History Library, FHL US/CAN Book 974.8 A1 no. 407.

Periodicals

The Lure of the Litchfield hills, (Winsted, Connecticut : N. W. Adams, [1940]-). Available at the Family History Library, FHL US/CAN 974.61 B2L.

Land

Library of Congress, Topography and Map Division, Litchfield County, Connecticut land ownership map, 1859, (Washington, DC : Library of Congress, 1983). Available online at flickr from Yahoo, (accessed 2 Mar 2011). Also available at the Family History Library, FHL US/CAN Fiche 6079299.

Tinmouth (Vermont). Proprietors' Clerk, Proprietors records, 1761-1809, (Montpelier, Vermont : Vermont Public Records Division, 1973). Microfilm of original records filmed at Tinmouth, Vermont. Contains deeds and land surveys. Also includes land records from various counties in Connecticut. Includes charter book which contains a copy of the 1761 Tinmouth charter and minutes of proprietors meetings. Available at the Family History Library, FHL US/CAN 944196 Item 4 and 6.

Maps

Department of Economic and Community Development, Connecticut Maps, (accessed 2 Mar 2011). Organized by State and County. Links to road maps, county outlines, colored outlines and lists of towns.

Military

Military Data Extracted From Barkhamsted, Conn. , & Its Centennial 1879 To Which is Added A Historical Appendix 1881, transcribed by Jane Devlin. A list of Barkhamsted men who served in the War of the Revolution, the War of 1812-14, the Mexican War and the Rebellion of 1861-65.

American Revolution

Josephine Ellis Richards, Honor Roll of Litchfield County Revolutionary Soldiers, (Salt Lake City, Utah : Filmed by the Genealogical Society of Utah, 1969). Transcription available online at rootsweb, (accessed 1 Mar 2011). Organized by Town. Also available at the Family History Library, FHL US/CAN Film 599295 Item 2. Includes index. Can also be found on the Family History Library Desktop, Computer US/CAN Desktop CD-ROM no. 2630 v.2.

Civil War

Civil War service men from Litchfield County served in various regiments. Men often joined a company (within a regiment) that originated in their county. Most of the men in the following companies were from Litchfield County.

Those who served in the Civil War, (accessed 25 Feb 2011). List of names given from Charles F. Sedgwick's, The General History of The Town of Sharon, Litchfield County, Connectictut From Its First Settlement, (Amenia, NY: Charles Walsh, Printer and Publisher 1877).

Native American

Naturalization and Citizenship

Connecticut. Court of Common Pleas. Superior Court, Index to naturalization petitions 1790-1906, 1906-1973 (Litchfield County, Connecticut - Court of Common Pleas, and Superior Court), (Salt Lake City, Utah : Filmed by the Genealogical Society of Utah, 2003). Available at the Family History Library, FHL US/CAN Film 2369711 Item 2. (3 films)

Connecticut. Superior Court (Litchfield County), Naturalization records (Litchfield County, Connecticut), 1906-1945 NARA, RG21, (Salt Lake City, Utah : Filmed by the Genealogical Society of Utah, 2008). Includes index. Some volumes have the index at the back of the volume. Available at the Family History Library, Vault US/CAN Film 2431899 Item 2. (17 Films)

Probate District Courts

Taxation

Vital Records

Litchfield County (Connecticut). Coroner, Coroner's Records, 1883-1934, (Salt Lake City, Utah : Filmed by the Genealogical Society of Utah, 1988). Indexes are found within each volume. Available at the Family History Library, Volume 1-2: FHL US/CAN Film 1579556 Items 2-3. Volume 3-10: FHL US/CAN Film 1602521-1602525.

Mildred E. Berry Nott, Cythia Nott Ockels, and June Berry, The Longfellow birthday book, Includes primarily birthdates with some death and marriage dates for residents of Burrville, Winsted, and Harwinton, (Litchfield County), Connecticut with other relatives in other states. Entries were kept from 1892-1973. Available at the Family History Library, FHL US/CAN Book 974.61 V2n.

Societies and Libraries

Howard Williston Carter, The Litchfield County University Club a brief historical sketch with list of members, 1896-1903, (Ann Arbor, Michigan : University Microfilms, 1987). Available online at Google Books, (accessed 1 Mar 2011), or Internet Archives, (accessed 1 Mar 2011). A database of this book can be found at ancestry.com$, (accessed 1 Mar 2011). Also available at the Family History Library, FHL US/CAN Fiche 6062278.

Dudley L. Vaill, The Litchfield County University Club an account of its origin and a brief review of its history, (Ann Arbor, Michigan : University Microfilms, 1987). A database for this book can be found at ancestry.com$, (accessed 1 Mar 2011). Also available at the Family History Library, FHL US/CAN Fiche 6062279.

Linkpendium, (accessed 28 Feb 2011). Litchfield County Genealogy and Family History

MyGenealogist , (accessed 28 Feb 2011). Litchfield County, Connecticut Genealogy Resources. Our expert research team has put together some helpful links and resources to help you get started with your project. Many of the Fairfield County resources listed on this page are often used by our genealogists to locate important records like birth certificates, obituaries, court records, marriage certificates, land deeds, and family histories.